Just caught the raw for episode 2. I more or less got the jist of it, but the big fight scene is really going to need some explanation. Visually, it was incredibly unique and cool. But from a storytelling perspective it really makes very little sense without the expository dialogue. Rai makes his debut here and he seems pretty fun. We also get to see more of Gou and realize just how very much he is not at all like Kouga from Garo. He's actually kind of an enormous spaz outside of battle.

At any rate, the most important thing is that there is a very obvious and direct homage in this episode to The Three Amigos. This show is now officially awesome.

The rules of the Hikaribito dictate that the loser of a fight between them would become the winner's underling or specifically Shatei (basically means younger brother in yakuza terminology). See here:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/shatei

Gou is pretty much the anti-Kouga in term of personality. I'm really liking the series so far, the two recent collaboration between Inoue and Amemiya have been really good. It's cool to see the CM for Sword Gai, the collaboration manga between the two in the Gouraigan's commercial.

Looks like GUIS is going to be picking this up, too, for those of us who aren't TV-Nihon fans.

Checked out the first episode and was pretty underwhelmed to be honest. The suits were absolutely amazing, but the show just didn't work for me on either a comedy or a sci-fi level.

Gonna check out the second though as it looks really fun. It's only fair I give it a few more episodes before deciding whether to drop it or not.

Also hi random boobs.

Yeah, ironically, I enjoyed this less when I knew what was going on and couldn't just appreciate the pretty visuals.

Just got to sit down with the subs for a good watch through. Really enjoyed it. The visuals do a lot to make me love it but the plot seems pretty good as well. I liked the King's line that 1000 soldiers were coming but for Gou "even you could only defeat 1/5 of them". Forshadowing of course the arrival and necessity of Sho, Geki, Rai, & Gan.

I just found out that the actress who plays Navi (Akari Hoshino) use to be a AV actress. *Giggity Giggity Gig-a-ty* :D No wonder she's...Um comfortable in front of the camera. :D

Most of the actresses in this show are former JAV actresses and/or models. There are going to be a lot of boobs and butts in this thing.

I watched the first episode of this and really really enjoyed it, it was funny and action packed. I love Gou and can't wait to meet the others.

Heh Heh Alright! :D

Now that's what I call marketing. :p



For anyone like me that's been dragging their ass to watch this, GUIS is also subbing Gouraigan for a non-TVN option.

PS Do keep in mind GUIS hasn't had the best track record on weeklies in the past.

Oh, cool, their version is out now. I'll give this a third watch, I suppose. Already, though, I'm not sure about changing the show's name. I get that it's a proper translation, but the "Shougeki" is part of the play on the five main warriors' names, not just a random adjective.

I always dislike the translation of names but in this case it seems especially unnecessary. Shou, Geki, Gou, Rai, & Gan are all literal character names. Why translate something like that?

Agree, I don't really like GUIS translation either, especially now that they even change the title, even though like everyone else say, Shougeki is formed from the characters' actual name.

Well at least GUIS uploaded the softsubs so you can edit it.

I love GUIS, but I'll stick with Nihon since they are the ones I started with. I'm trying to just stay with one groups subs on a series from this point forward. For example, I'm doing OT's Kyoryu subs since that is how I watched it first. I will stick with Aesir for Gaim, and Nihon for Shougeki.

I'll just wait for GUIS to finish Kaku (odd though, they were on a roll and then suddenly slowed down when I expected things to speed up with Maskman completed), Bio, and Five.

This show is a riot! Just watched episode 2.

I'm debating whether to keep waiting for the GUIS sub of episode 2 or just bite the bullet and get the TVN version.

I know 1 episode worth of comparisons isn't alot to go on, but I think I'll be sticking with TVN. If for nothing else than the odd title translation.

So I just watched the first episode. I thought the pacing was kind of…odd the fact that they kept switching back and fourth between epic space battle and look at this pretty Japanese lady but I thought it was enjoyable

Gou reminds me a lot of Momotaros.

2 was an improvement, definitely funnier and easier to follow, visuals continue to be very unique and the Romantic Comedy aspect is starting to show.
The concept of underlings is quite interesting. Geki is next!

On the other hand the gratuitous nudity is simply silly. Navi makes sense due to the whole visual motif, but that last scene... tacked on.

….Man this series is on crack! :lol

The craziest thing so far must be the reason for Hitomi being unable to see the monsters this week.

I mean, the fuck!? :lolol

…No the craziest has to be the woman randomly starting to take her cloths off towards the end. :lol

Nah that simply was dumb. :lol

Who was she anyways?

No freaking clue. Some assistant I guess :lol

The opening theme is catchy as hell though

Oh yes, can't wait for the full version.

She's Black Condor's secretary, if I remember the cast page correctly.

She's not a former porn star like Navi and the karaoke bar owner's actresses (and the detective chick who hasn't appeared yet), but she has done nude modeling.

Are we talking about THE Black Condor?

Well whatever that scene was weird.

Only just now watching the second episode, man I didn't miss TVN's shitty encodes. Subs aside, the actual quality of their video is always shit. I don't know what they compressed this with, but I've seen DVD rips released like seven years ago with less tearing and pixellation.

This was basically another whole episode where I never knew what the fuck was going on, to the point where I swear some scenes were edited out of order. Still, the actors involved seemed to be having a great time and that made it very fun to watch as well. It was so balls to the wall in places, that it was just downright laugh out loud hilarious.

The action however, I was less impressed with. Underneath all the flash, there actually wasn't a lot to it, like at all. Rai did a few flips, waved his stick around and it ended. The hand to hand combat was brief, and the energy attacks lacked a sense of impact, plus although the setting for the fighting was visually awesome, the disconnect from the real world took a lot of the weight out of the hits. Still, it was GORGEOUS.

I definitely enjoyed this way more than the first episode though and am hungry for more.

Really like the fight scene in episode 3, the hand-to-hand combat is pretty good, really like Geki's fighting style. I've always preferred HTH than weapons, having practiced martial arts myself. His Bakugeki and bunshin ability are pretty cool too. Definitely didn't expect Gou having Shingan (Mind Eye) though.

Bit the bullet and watched the TVN sub for episode 2. I may keep up with this. Watch the TVN version, but go with GUIS if I decide I want to keep the show.

Anyway, it turns out I didn't really miss much by watching it raw. Some of the more subtle aspects make sense now, like why Gou was following Hitomi, but most of it was about the same. The narrative still jumps too much leading into the Gou vs. Rai fight and the setting switch still comes out of nowhere.

Oh well, I'm still enjoying the show.

Edit: went ahead and watched episode 3 raw, too. This show is weird. I kinda love it.

Checked out the second episode and this still qualifies as one of the weirdest shows I've watched. Still, this was much better than the first - it got a few genuine laughs out of me and the visuals continue to be an absolute treat.

Man this show still manages to be bizarrely awesome. Loved the second episode even if the pacing was a bit weird.

I have no idea where this series is going, but I'm really enjoying it so far.

After just finishing watching the latest episode. I think I'm just going to wait, to this is all done and then watch it. Because they say a "love Comedy" but I'm not seeing it yet. And what's considered to be "Comedy" within it?

Now I was under the impression that Gou love interest would be Kai Hitomi. But judging from this episode, it looks like it shall be Shou. Especially seeing that after he shielded her. (protected her) She seems to be in love with him now and he's not rejecting her or anything.

This series is all over the place. :D I know it's still earlier in the game, but so far I'm confused as hell.

So I just watched the third episode. If it wasn't for how insanely cool Geki was, I'd probably have dropped the show with this episode. It's just random nonsense, and none of it is funny, the action feels clunky and lacks polish and even Geki's cool design was let down by the way it reflected the set and green screens to the audience, completely breaking the illusion.

Also the main girl really needs a sandwich.

O.K. Guys, I figured I'd put this info out there for us.


Kai Hitomi - Shinkawa Yua (Gravure Idol)

http://wiki.tvnihon.com/w/images/thu...aigan_c1_1.jpg

Kanzaki Rurika - Dan Mitsu (Gravure Idol/Nude Model)

http://wiki.tvnihon.com/w/images/thu...igan_c13_1.jpg

Morita Ryouko - Andou Haruka (Gravure Idol)

http://wiki.tvnihon.com/w/images/thu...igan_c11_1.jpg

Asaoka Mirei Mama - Asaoka Mirei (Actress/Nude Model)

http://wiki.tvnihon.com/w/images/thu...igan_c15_1.jpg

Surfer Jane - Kawamura Rika (Gravure Idol)

http://wiki.tvnihon.com/w/images/thu...aigan_c7_1.jpg

Tachibana Akiko - Rio (AV Model)

http://wiki.tvnihon.com/w/images/thu...aigan_c5_1.jpg

Navi - Hoshino Akari (AV Model)

http://wiki.tvnihon.com/w/images/thu...igan_c14_1.jpg

Shou - Kasuya Nami (Model/Actress) :(

http://wiki.tvnihon.com/w/images/thu...aigan_c8_1.jpg

Watched episode four. Jin really should look into getting some therapy for his receptionist.

Shou seems interesting, although I'm not sure what was up with the blatantly fake butterflies on wands. Mika Hijii's brief cameo as her was fun, though, especially the Garo reference with the brush.

Things I learned from Episode 3:

1. DDR is serious buisness in Japan

2. Violently murdering a business partner when he tries to lock you out with a mini-zombie-dinosaur-bird-thingie can get a woman off